Process and apparatus for decorating buttons and like articles



July 26, 1932. 1,868,849

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING BUTTONS AND LIKE ARTICLE F. PURiNTON Filed Nov. 20, 1930 MM l SSVWAZ/M kfl 1/ InvenTor.

ForresT G. F urinTon b %MM4 f A1 Tys.

Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oer-"ice FORREST G. PURINTON, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, AS SIGNOB TO THE PATENT 'BUTTON COMPANY, OF WATERBURY, CONNEGTICI'UT;it CORPORATION OF CONNECTI- our I r s PROCESS AND aAPBARATU'S 'ZFOR DECORATING BUTTONS AND LIKE ARTICLES Application filed novembrao isso. Serial No.- 495,951

This invention relates to improvements in process and apparatus for producing orna mental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles, such as buttons. j

The process in its broad sense comprises assembling a multiplicity of said articles in separated, but preferably narrowly'juxtaposed relation upon a carrier, transferring the assembled articles from the carrier into contact with stencils arranged in juxtapositioncomplimentary to the assembly of the articles, forcing -the respective articles against their respective stencils with substantially uniform pressure and applying tothe stencils a coloring material containing a highly volatile solvent removin g the articles from engagement with the stencils, and permitting or causing the articles to dry.

Desirably the articles, or at least the face of the article which is to be ornamented is first coated with a soluble enamel, such as nitro-cellu-lose which is soluble'in the solvent 7 which is employed 'in the coloring or paintling mixture, so that the color may be caused to penetrate into the. body of the enamel, thereby producing a permanent coloring effect without destroying the smooth enamel surface of the article or causing the-design to appear in relief upon the surface of the article. Howeventhe process is not necessarily limited to the use of enamel for the article, nor to the use of enamel and a paint mixture soluble in a common solvent, as in some instances it maybe desirable to produce the'pattern in relief on the article.

An illustrative form of apparatus for producing the process is shown in the accompanying drawing, inwhich, H

Fig. 1 is a detail view of a portion of an assembling carrier; I i Fig. 2 is a view, partly in longitudinal vertical section, and partly in elevation, and broken away'centrally, of the apparatus illustratin the relative, aositi on of the stencil plate and the carrier for the assembled articles. with means for forcing the respective articles into contact with the stencils with substantially uniform pressure; I

Fig. 3-isa similar view, illustrating the articles held in engagement with the stencils V and in position to be coated an airbrush,

or other suitable coating means;

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of one of-the stencils mounted inv the stencil plate; and,

Fig. 5 is a detail view ofan article such as a button, ornamented with a stenciled orna mentation shown in Fig. 4. s

The apparatus illustrated panyingdrawing comprises a bedi1,,and end frames2 connected by longitudinally extending girders 3 and 4, the girders 3 providing slides for supporting the assembling means,

in} the accomwhile the girders 4,"together preferably with cross girders 5 upon the end frames 2, form supports for the stencil plate 6, One ofethe end frames2 desirablyis provided with an abutment 7 adaptedto'be-engaged by the ends of the carrier, and thestencil plate-6, while I the other end frame 2 may be provided with a gate 8'slidably mountedin the posts of theend frame adapted .to' be removed for the purpose of introducingand removingthe assem- V bling plate. The gate 8 when replaced will also serveto lock the assembling plate and the stencil plate, in proper relation to each other. 8

The stencil plate 6 may be of metal, or of other suitable material, andprovided with apertures 9 therethrough, the walls of the lower portions of said apertures being counterb ored to provide countersinkslO present,

ing shoulders 11 adapted to be engaged by stencils 12. The stencils12 may be of sheet metal, or other material, suitably .apertured to provide the desired design, and curved to conform to the contour of the face of the ar ticle, such as a :button, which is to be ornamerited. lThe stencil plates 12 maybe @s'ecured against the shoulders 11 of thecoiin tersin'ks-by suitable collars 13 removably .secured within the countersinks in "any desired manner. v I i I The inner faces of thecollars desirably are tapered convergingly to guide the articles into proper engagement with the stencils. Desirably the upper walls 14 of the apertures 9, converge downwardly to insure access of the coating material to all portions of the stencils. i ,7

lThe stencil plate .is provided with a multi plicity of apertures desirably arranged in close juxtaposition and in such a manner that a maximum number of stencils may be supported in the stencil plate.

Theassembling means as illustrated comprises an upper plate 15 and a lower plate 16 held apart by spacing sleeves 1T surrounding rivets 18, or other suitable means for securing the plates together in spaced relation. The upper plate 15 desirably is formed of or constructed to present a smooth upper surface of a material, such as Bakelite, which is not affected by the solvent contained in the coloring or painting material which is used for decorating the articles.

The upper plate is provided with a plurality of apertures 19 provided with countersin is 20 complementary to and registering axially with the apertures 9 of the stencil plate 6. Tubular plungers 21 are reciprocably mounted in the apertures 19 and extend downwardly therefrom through suitable guiding apertures 22 in the lower plate 16 of the assembling device. The lower ends of the sleeves 22 desirably are beaded outwar lly to form curved surfaces 23 adapted to be engaged by the flexible wall of a fluid-containing bag 24 which rests upon the base 1 of the machine.

The upper ends of the tubes 21 may be flared outwardly to provide heads to engage the articles but preferably are provided with heads 25 which are removably secured in the upper ends of the. plungers 21 and provided with outwardly extending flanges 26, the upper surfaces of which, in whole or in part, conform to the under face of the articles, such as buttons B. to be decorated.

The articles to be decorated are placed in the recesses 2'? above the heads of the plungers 21 and when thus assembled desirably lie substantially in the plane of the upper face of the assembling plate 15.

As before stated, the assembling means, comprising the upper plate 15, the lower plate 16, and the plungers 21 carried thereby, are removably mounted in the frame and upon withdrawal of the gate 8 may be slid lengthwise out of the machine to enable the articles to be assembled in the recesses of the upper plate 15. Such assembling of the articles in the plate may be performed by placing the plate in an assembling machine. such as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1.711.250, in which the plate or tray is supported upon a reciprocating device in such a manner that a mass of articles placed upon the plate or tray is caused by the reciprocation of the same to pass over the tray, only such articles remaining in the plate or tray as depos ited within the recesses. with like faces presented upwardly. or a mass of the art cles may be brushed over the surface of the plate 15 so that the articles will only be deposited in the recesses when the faces of such articles conform to the contour of the heads of the plungers, while articles presenting the reverse side, being unable to enter the recesses, will be swept across the plate and discharged therefrom.

When the recesses of the plate are filled with articles in assembled relation, the as sembling plate is slid into the machine in the manner above described and locked in position in the machine by the gate 8, or other suitable means, in such position that the plungers are in axial alinement with the apertures in the stencil plate.

Fluid under pressure, such as air, may then be introduced through a suitable stem 28 leading to the flexible bag 24L, thereby inflating the bag and causing the upper wall thereof to engage andraise the plungers 21, thereby forcing the articles into engagement with the stencils 12.

Desirably the stencil plate 6 is so mounted that it may be raised by the pressure applied to the lower ends of the plungers 21, so that upon further inflation of the bag 24 all of the articles will be forced against their stencils with a uniform pressure and maintained in close contact therewith. When the articles have been thus forced into intimate contact with the stencils, the coloring material or paint may be applied in any usual manner, preferably by an air brush.

Desirably a slight clearance is provided between the plungers 21 and the walls of the apertures in the plates 15 and 16 through which they pass, so that when the articles are pressed firmly against the stencils, centralization of the articles relatively to the stencils will be insured. Such firm pressure also insures a sharp outline of the design obtained upon the face of the button when the coloring material is applied thereto.

Desirably the face of the articles to be ornamented, or if desired the entire articles may be coated with an enamel or lacquer of material such as nitro-cellulose which is soluble in the carrying vehicle of the paint 1ni: ture. By reducing the non-volatile portion of the painting mixture, practically to the pigment, using only enough gums to act as a binder, a composition is produced which may be very finely atomized and applied slowly. The nitric-cellulose enamel coating of the article will then absorb the liquid practically as fast as it is applied. Inasmuch as the painting or decoratingmixture almost entirely pigment and solvent, it is very eac' y atomized and applied. Furthermore, the use of a mixture having very little non-volatile matter is advantageous in that the apertures in the stencils will not become loaded up and the stencil plate may, therefore, be used a considerable time before it is necessary to clean the same.

By providing an assembling plate 15 made of or having a surface coating of Bakelite,

H am.

Y or other material, which presentsa smooth polished surface, and isnot soluble-in the solvent contained in the painting or coloring mixture, it can be readily wiped off each time theassembling means is. removedfromrthe machine and will not, therefore, be coated with paint, dust, or. any other material, nor gumme'd up in such a manner as to prevent proper and rapid assemblage of articles thereupon.

While in the construction illustrated in the drawing a stencil plate containing a multiplicity of stencils, and an assembling tray containing a multiplicity of recesses complementary to the stencils, is provided with plun'gers for forcing the articles carried by the assembling tray-into engagement with the respective stencils,other mechanism may be provided for accomplishing this purpose, such as complementary travelling members provided respectivelywith stencils andassembling means with means for yieldably forcingthe articles into engagementwith the stencils to provide an automatic continuously operating painting machine of the type disclosed in my prior application 7 Serial Number 153,512, filedDecember 9, 1926, for

machines for assembling and coating a mul- V tiplicity of articles. It will, therefore, be understood that the particular embodiment- ,of the invention disclosed herein is of'an having a multiplicity of article-receivingrecesses complementary to said stencil-containing apertures, means for so supporting said assemblingmeans as to cause the articles supported thereby to registerwith the respective stencils, and simultaneously operablevmeans for independently forcing each of saidartieles into firm engagement with the stencil: therefor, whereby'decorating material may be applied to the article stencil. s

2. Apparatus for producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles comprising a stencil carrier-having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, stencils secured in said apertures, means for supporting said stencil --carrier, assembling means having a multiplicity of article-receiving recesses complementary to said stencil-contaim ing apertures, means for so supporting said I assembling means as tocause'the' articles supported thereby to register the respective through the design of the stencils,"and simultaneously operable means for. yieldably forcing all ofsaid articles into firmengagement with their respective stencils I with a substantially uniform pressure, where'- by decorating material "may be applied to the articlethrough the designs of thestencils.

'3 :Apparatus for producing ornamental designsupon a multiplicity of small articles- "which comprises a stencil carrier having a I multiplicity of aperturestherethrougli, stencils secured in said apertures, means for sup I porting said stencil carrier to permit .a'bodi ly movement thereof, assembllngmeans having a plurality of, article-receiving recesses complementary to said stencil-containing apertures, means for so supporting said assembling means as to cause the articles supported thereby to register I W1tl1'Sa1d stenclls,

and means for yieldably forcing said articles intoengagement with their respective stencils, and thereupon conjointly moving said stencil carrier and said articles while maintaining the same in firm engagement.

4:- Apparatus for producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of smallarticles which comprises a stencil carrier having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, stencils secured insaid apertures, means for supportingsa-id stencil carrier to permit a bodie ly movement thereof, assembling means havmg a plurality of article-receivingrecesses complementary tov said stencilscontaining apertures, means for so supporting said assembling. means as to cause the articles supported thereby to register with said stencils,

and means for yieldably forcingsaidarticles into engagement with their respective stencils with sufficient force conjointlyto support said stencils upon said articles, whereby intimate-engagement of all-of said articleswith the respective stencils will be insured.

5. Apparatus for producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of smallarticles which comprises: a stencil carrier having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, stencils secured in said apertures, means for supporting said stencil: carrier, assembling means having a multiplicity of article-receiving recesses-complementary to said stencil-containing apertures, plungers reciprocab'lymounted ins'aidrecesses, means for so supporting, said assembling means as to-cause the articlereceiving 'recessespto register with the respective stencil apertures, and means for si- ,m ultaneously a'ctuatingthe respective'plungers to force the respective articles yieldably into firm for.

engagement with the stencils there- 7 A 6. Apparatus forproducing ornamental designsupon a multiplicity of small articles which comprises a stencil carrier having a multiplicity of apertures thereth'rough, sten-' cils secured insaidapertures, means for supporting said stencil carrier, assembling 1 means having a multiplicity of article-re- CPL ceiving recesses complementary to said stencil-containing apertures, plungers reciprocably mounted in said recesses, means for so supporting said assembling means as to cause the article-receiving recesses to register with the respective stencil apertures, and fluid-operated means for actuating the respective plungers to force said articles in to firm engagement with the stencils therefor with substantially uniform pressure.

7'. Apparatus for producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles which comprises a stencil carrier having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, stencils secured in said apertures, means for supporting said stencil carrier, assembling means having a multiplicity of article-receiving recesses complementary to said stencil-containing apertures, plungers reciprocably mounted in and depending from said recesses having heads complementary to one of the faces of said articles and enabling the articles supported in said recesses, with the complementary faces of the articles and plunger in contact, to lie below the upper plane of the article-receiving means, means for so supporting said assembling means as to cause the articles supported thereby to register with the respective stencil apertures, and means for actuating said plungers to force the respective articles yieldably into firm engagement with the stencils therefon 8. Apparatus for producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles which comprises a base, a frame mounted thereupon, a. stencil plate yieldably mounted on said frame having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, stencils secured in said apertures, an assemblingtray having a plurality of article-receiving recesses complementary to said stencil-containing apertures, means for rcmovably supporting said assembling tray upon said machine with the article-receiving recesses in registry with'the stencil apertures, and means for simultaneously forcing said articles into firm but yielding engagement with the respective stencils with substantially uniform pressure.

9. Apparatus for producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles which comprises a base, a frame mounted thereupon, a stencil plate yieldably mounted on said frame having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, stencils secured in said apertures, an assembling tray having a plurality of article-receiving recesses comple-mentary to said stencil-containing apertures, means for supporting said assembling tray upon said machine with the articlereceiving recesses in registry with the stencil apertures, and fluid-operated means for simultaneously forcing said articles into firm but yielding engagement with the respective stencils with substantially uniform pressure.

10. Apparatus for producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles which comprises a base, a frame mounted thereupon, a stencil plate yieldably mounted on said frame having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, stencils secured in said apertures, an assembling trayhaving a plurality of article-receiving recesses complementary to said stencil-containing apertures, plungers reciprocably mounted in said recesses having heads to support said articles, means for guiding said plungers, means for supporting said assembling tray with the article-receiving recesses in registry with the stencil apertures, and fluid-operated means for actuating said plungers to force the respective articles into firm but yielding engagement with the respective stencils with substantially uniform pressure.

11. Apparatus for producing ornamentaldesigns upon a multiplicity of small articles comprising a stencil plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough, with the lower portion of the wall of each aperture countersunlr, stencils mounted in the countersinks of the respective apertures and detachable means for securing each stencil in its countersink.

12. Apparatus for producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles which comprises a stencil carrier having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, sten CllS secured in said apertures, means for sup-.

porting said stencil carrier, assembling means having a multiplicity of article-receiving recesses complementary to said stencil-containing apertures, tubular plungers reciprocably mounted in said recesses having enlarged heads supported in said recesses presenting article-engaging faces, means for supporting said assembling means to cause the article-receiving recesses to register with the stencil apertures, and fluid-operated means for actuating the respective plungers to force said articles into firm but yieldable engagement with the respective stencils with a substantially uniform pressure.

13. Apparatus for producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles which comprises a stencil carrier having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough, stencils secured in said apertures, means for supporting said stencil carrier, assembling means havin a multiplicity of article-receiving recesses complementary to said stencil-containing apertures, tubular plungers reciprocably mounted in said recesses and having removable heads presenting articleengaging faces adapted to support the articles within said recesses only when like faces of said articles are engaged by said plunger heads, means for supporting said asmbling means with the article-receiving means in registry with the stencil apertures, and fluid-operated means engagingthe lower end of said plungers operable to force the respective articles into firm but yieldable engagement with the respective stencils with a substantially uniform pressure.

l4. Apparatus or painting ornamental deslgns upon a multiplicity of'small articles which comprises a stencil carrier having a plurality of apertures therethrough, ,sten- V for independently forcing each of said arti- V cles into firm engagement with the stencil therefor. v

15. The process of producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles which comprises assembling the articles in separate but juxtaposed relation upon a carrier, sembled articles from the carrier into contact with stencils arranged in juxtaposition complementary to the assembly of said articles, forcing the respective articles against the stencils therefor with substantially uniform pressure, spraying upon the stencils atomized coloring material containing a highly volatile solvent and removing the articles from engagement with the stencils, 16. The process of producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles which comprises coatingv the face of the article which is to be ornamented with a soluble enamel, assembling the articles in separate but juxtaposed relation upon a carrier, transferring the assembled articles from the carrier into contact with stencils arranged in juxtaposition complementary to the assem bly of said articles, forcing the articles against the stencils therefor with substantially uniform pressure, and applying to the stencils a coloring material mixed with a highly volatile solvent for said enamel, re moving the articles from engagement with the solvent in assembled arrangement, and removing the articles from engagement with the stencils.

17 The process of producing ornamental designs upon a multiplicity of small articles which comprises coating the face of the articles which is to beornamented with a soluble nitro-cellulose enamel, assembling the articles in separate but juxtaposed relation upon a carrier, transferring the assembled articles from the carrier into contact with stencils arranged in juxtaposition complementary to the assembly of said articles, forcing the respective articles against the stencils therefor with substantially unisimulta-neously transferring the as-' form pressure, spraying upon the stencil carrier, and stencils an atomized mixture comprising a pigment and a relatively small proportion of a solvent for the enamel and removing the articles fromthe stencils.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FORREST G. PURINTON. 

